Chapter 7

“Hudson Riley~ Your underwear’s fallen off~”

This is Brody Payne’s usual tactic. Whenever Hudson Riley resists, she uses this kind of “psychological violence” against her. It always works. In the past, Hudson Riley would blush with embarrassment. But over time, she got used to it. But today, a clear female voice came from next door. Her enthusiasm could be felt even through the walls: “Okay! I’ll go pick it up right away~”

Brody Payne’s eyes lit up as he slapped his thigh and laughed, “Not bad, not bad. He’s a talent with potential!”

Hudson Riley’s little universe completely erupted! Being flirted with by women and by men is equally terrifying. And to make matters worse, there’s Brody Payne, that flirtatious jerk, plus that shy girl next door!

She clenched her small fists, waved them in the air, and said angrily, “I’m going to tell Lianna that you bullied me!”

“He’s coming back?” Brody Payne raised an eyebrow. “Weren’t they supposed to wait another year?”

Hudson Riley immediately became proud, his chin raised high: “My Liana is so smart! She’s completed two years’ worth of coursework in just one year. She’ll be back with me soon!”

Watching her smug expression, Brody Payne rolled his eyes inwardly. Women in love are really all crazy, stupid, and foolish!

“Are you sure you want to tell Liana Frost?” Brody Payne looked at her with a smirk. “Have you thought this through? Before he returns, you’ll have to deal with me every day. You can’t cook, so what are you going to do, starve to death?”

Hudson Riley’s smug expression froze on his face. He immediately became obsequious, leaning closer to Brody Payne with a sly smile: “I was wrong, Jiejie! My goddess! Oh heavens! I love you deeply!”

“Enough already,” Brody Payne rolled his eyes at her, causing goosebumps to cover her skin. “Stop being disgusting. Go pack your stuff now, or you won’t get any food tonight.”

Hudson Riley was overjoyed. He gave a half-baked military salute, picked up his pen, and circled today’s date on the calendar. Then, counting on his fingers, he happily calculated the day when Leana Frost would return.

Brody Payne shook his head helplessly, stepped out of the living room, and went onto the balcony to enjoy the breeze. The evening breeze was cool and somewhat melancholic. Suddenly feeling a bit down, she shouted mischievously to the neighbors, “Come by often!”

The woman next door immediately replied, “Are there any panties left?”

Brody Payne couldn’t help but laugh. But the next second, a deep, gentle male voice came from next door, with a hint of exasperation: “Lemmy, why are you so irresponsible?”

Brody Payne’s smile froze on his face instantly.

This voice… how can it sound so much like his?

She smiled sadly and shook her head. How could that be possible? He was so outstanding. How could he be here, living with a strange girl?

Memories flood back like the tide: that gentle and kind-hearted boy, those love letters hidden at the bottom of a box, never sent out, that unfulfilled secret love, and those tears shed in secret during the night.

Love, oh love, what a tormenting thing it is.

The evening breeze grew colder, causing her eyes to sting and feel dry. Brody Payne wiped his face and was about to turn back inside when, from the open balcony next door, a corner of the thin curtain was blown aside by the wind. What she saw inside made her freeze on the spot.

A gentle man held a petite girl in his arms, looking down at her lovingly. The girl tilted her head back, smiling with happy eyes. Both of them had expressions of happiness on their faces.

The man’s profile was clearly visible to Brody Payne. It was really him. The person she had been searching for all this time lived right next door.

Brody Payne took two steps back, pressing his back against the balcony railing. He covered his mouth with his hands, trying not to cry out. Tears streamed down like beads from a broken string, washing over his heart, which felt like it might dry up at any moment.

She finally found him, met him again, but someone else was already by his side.

It turns out that reuniting isn’t the beginning of happiness, but rather the prelude to yet another heartbreak.

Time flies by quickly. Before we know it, the New Year is here.

The Yun family is especially lively this year, because Leana Frost is coming back!

Mrs. Riley had already spent hours cleaning the entire house three times over, along with Hudson Riley and Mr. Riley. They also held countless “family meetings” regarding the New Year’s Eve menu. The menu was changed again and again, with as much care and attention as would be put into preparing for the college entrance exam.

Hudson Riley stared at the long menu, drooling almost: “Mom, are you planning to serve a full Manchu-Han banquet?”

Mr. Riley pushed his glasses up on his nose and said slowly, “Your mother’s over the moon with joy. Lianna Frost is the daughter-in-law she’s chosen for you.”

“How dare you talk about me?” Mrs. Riley crossed her arms and glared at Mr. Riley. “Who was it that took out the Go set early this morning, cleaned it several times, just so they could play against Leana Frost?”

Mr. Riley was momentarily speechless. He picked up the newspaper and pretended to read it carefully, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Mrs. Riley turned to Hudson Riley, who was still drooling, and ordered in a commanding tone, “You, go wash and chop the vegetables right now. When Leana Frost comes back tonight, she wants something hot to eat.”

Hudson Riley immediately switched the remote control in his hands. With a pitiful expression, he said, “No, let Dad go. I want to watch Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf!”

“No way!” Mr. Riley immediately protected his Go pieces. “I still need to clean my Go pieces. I have no time!”

After all, Mrs. Riley was the head of the household. She remained expressionless as she picked up Mr. Riley with her left hand and Hudson Riley with her right. Her movements were smooth and efficient. Despite her fuller figure, she moved swiftly, dragging both men straight into the kitchen.

A moment later, the remote control in Hudson Riley’s hands turned into a kitchen knife, and the Go pieces in Mr. Riley’s hands turned into green vegetables. Both of them looked upset, but didn’t dare to resist. Mrs. Riley clapped her hands and nodded in satisfaction—Mission accomplished!

After everything was packed up, the whole family drove to the airport together. Along the way, Mrs. Riley told everyone that Leana Frost was coming back. The older members of the community looked at Hudson Riley with envy and praised him, saying, “Hudson is really lucky. Leana Frost is such a wonderful and sensible girl.”

Mrs. Riley and Mr. Riley had faces full of pride.

At the airport, the plane landed on time. But the smiles on Mr. and Mrs. Riley’s faces instantly vanished, and their enthusiasm dropped to zero. Their eyes were fixed on the fair, slender hand on Leana Frost’s arm.

The owner of that hand was a Chinese girl with black hair and black eyes. She had willow-like eyebrows and cherry-like lips. She was dressed in a tight-fitting dress that hugged her figure, with a trench coat over it. Standing beside Leana Frost, the two of them were a perfect match—a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

In contrast, Hudson Riley hadn’t bothered to get dressed up in order to get to the airport on time. She wore a bulky down jacket, with her hair tied up in a casual ponytail. Standing next to that girl, she seemed far less attractive.

Mrs. Riley lowered her voice and muttered, “Why did Leana bring back a ‘fairy’?”

Mr. Riley added, “Look at that waist—it’s as thin as a water snake, completely out of proportion.”

“Pah, you old rascal!” Lady Riley gave Mr. Riley a sharp pinch in the waist.

Their voices weren’t too loud or too soft—just enough for Leana Frost and the girl to hear. Hudson Riley forced a dry laugh on his face, but inside, his heart ached as if pierced by needles. A sense of anger surged through him in an instant.